“I came down absolutely not knowing what to expect – and I came out a different person”: Robert Trujillo took profound inspiration from Steven Wilson, and believes Metallica would feel the same

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By ( Prog ) published

Bassist says the Porcupine Tree founder is nearly in a league of his own – and that his creativity helps other musicians blossom

Robert Trujillo and Steven Wilson
(Image credit: Future)

Before he joined Metallica in 2003, Robert Trujillo had worked with influential musicians including Ozzy Osbourne, Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. But he found a new level of inspiration when he discovered Steven Wilson, as he told Prog in 2014.

“I’d been communicating with Nick Beggs about a film that we’re making about Jaco Pastorius [Jaco was released in 2014]. Nick told me he was working with Steven Wilson. I’d heard of Steven but I wasn’t familiar with his solo stuff. So he said they’d be in LA at the House Of Blues, and would I like to come?

I came down absolutely not knowing what to expect – and I came out of there a different person! It was really amazing and inspiring, and it touched a place in me creatively that was really powerful.

One of my friends is a drummer called Brooks Wackerman [Avenged Sevenfold, Bad Religion, Suicidal Tendencies]. He’s a fan of Porcupine Tree. The second time I went to see Steven Wilson with my wife – right up in the nosebleed seats at Club Nokia – there’s this different drummer, not Marco Minneman. I’m like, “Wow, that guy looks like a Wackerman!” And it was Brooks’ brother Chad!

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That show was on another level. I saw the video production, the animations… it was a huge moment for me. The collaboration with [animator] Jess Cope is really special. In a positive way I’m almost jealous – I wish we had a collaborator like that for Metallica [Cope and Metallica went on to collaborate in 2016].

I’ve waved the flag in Metallica for Steven Wilson. I think when they see him live they’ll be impressed

It sounds crazy, but I love that stuff – I’m a big fan of Pink Floyd and they use that visual side really well. When I saw The Raven That Refused To Sing live, I had tears in my eyes, it was so powerful. Steven certainly opened that door for me again.

Now every time he comes through LA, I’ll have to go. He’s like a new artist for me to discover, and I’m excited for Nick because even for him this is new territory, and he has a lot of freedom. Each guy in the band has a strong stage presence, and you can see them blossoming with every gig.

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I’ve waved the flag in Metallica for Steven Wilson. I think that when they see him live they’ll be impressed. Metallica is certainly open to trying new things – Lou Reed, Lang Lang… go back to the S&M album with the symphony orchestra – that was a huge step forward. There’s a lot of possibilities for our future.

To me Steven ranks with Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails or the Beach Boys; he’s capable of anything. I’m so happy that I found him!”

Jo Kendall
Jo Kendall

Jo is a journalist, podcaster, event host and music industry lecturer who joined Kerrang! in 1999 and then the dark side – Prog – a decade later as Deputy Editor. Jo's had tea with Robert Fripp, touched Ian Anderson's favourite flute (!) and asked Suzi Quatro what one wears under a leather catsuit. Jo is now Associate Editor of Prog, and a regular contributor to Classic Rock. She continues to spread the experimental and psychedelic music-based word amid unsuspecting students at BIMM Institute London and can be occasionally heard polluting the BBC Radio airwaves as a pop and rock pundit. Steven Wilson still owes her £3, which he borrowed to pay for parking before a King Crimson show in Aylesbury.